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HMIS is used by state and federally funded homeless and housing service providers to collect and manage data gathered during the course of providing housing assistance to people already experiencing homelessness and households at risk of losing their housing.
- Explanation of Washington’s HMIS (PDF)
- Frequently Asked Questions About HMIS (PDF)
- WA State Legislative website – HMIS consent law: Washington homeless client management information system (RCW 43.185C.180)
HMIS Training
Our Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) trainings are intended for staff working for agencies already set up with HMIS access through the Department of Commerce. If your agency is not using HMIS yet, but is interested in or planning to do so, please read the Frequently Asked Questions about HMIS (PDF). Before registering for training, please read the HMIS Training Catalog for pre-training requirements. Register for trainings using the HMIS Training Registration Calendar. Trainings are updated frequently.
Please review the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Training Catalog before registering for trainings using the HMIS Training Registration Calendar and HMIS Training FAQ (PDF). Commerce trainings are free of charge. You may take as many trainings as you like and retake trainings.
Taken a training already? Share your training feedback: HMIS Training Evaluation. Additional HMIS training questions? Contact Maylee Stevenson, maylee.stevenson@commerce.wa.gov
HMIS Resources
- HMIS Agency Partner Agreement – Updated 6/7/2018 (PDF)
- HMIS Informed Consent Form – Updated 6/7/2018 (PDF)
- HMIS Consent Form in Spanish – Updated 6/26/2018 (PDF)
- HMIS Interagency Data Sharing Agreement (PDF)
- HMIS Revocation of Consent Process for Teleworkers (PDF)
- HMIS Client Revocation of Consent Form – Updated 6/7/2018 (PDF)
- HMIS Client Revocation of Consent Form in Spanish – Updated 6/26/2018 (PDF)
- HMIS Client Privacy Rights -Notice of Uses & Disclosures (Word)
- HMIS User Policy Example – Updated 6/7/2018 (PDF) (The actual agreement is an electronic form in HMIS.)
Sample Forms / Templates
- 2019 PATH & STR HMIS Data Standard Changes Guide
- 2019 Youth Programs HMIS Data Standard Changes Guide
- HMIS Guidance for Domestic Violence and Consent Refused Providers (PDF)
- Consent Refused Client Profile Creation Guide (PDF)
- Clarity HMIS Help Portal (website)
- Learn Excel – Resources List (PDF)
- HMIS Basic Steps Cheat sheet (PDF)
- Rapid Re-Housing: Project & Housing Move-in Date Guide (PDF)
- Permanent Housing: Project & Housing Move-in Date Guide (PDF)
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Data Standards:
HUD manuals to assist HMIS Lead Agencies and Continuums of Care (CoCs) to correctly set up projects in HMIS can be found on each of these HUD webpages:
- Clarity Management Reports Details/Crosswalk (PDF)
- Clarity Annual Performance Report (APR) Instructions 2017 (PDF)
- Our web-based public portal provides one-stop information on homelessness assistance, spending, and performance via Tableau dashboard and informational graphics.
Explanation of Commerce’s partnership with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) (PDF)
Statewide HMIS data is used to produce several reports and publications using aggregated (containing no identifying client information) data. HMIS data is cross-match with DSHS and other state agency data through DSHS RDA. HMIS client data is not to be used for any other purpose except research and aggregate reporting.
Search for relevant DSHS RDA reports on the FFA Research and Data Analysis page. Tip: search for the subject “Homelessness.”
DSHS-HMIS Analysis of Matched Data Published Reports:
- February 2021 (web)
- November 2020 (web)
- September 2020 (web)
- February 2020 (web)
- December 2019 (web)
- View full newsletters (blog)
Program Links
Consolidated Homeless Grant
Annual Point in Time Count
Continuum of Care
Emergency Solutions Grant
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)
HUD Section 811 Rental Assistance
Homeless Student Stability Program (HSSP)
Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
Homeless System Performance
Office of Homeless Youth
Homeless Councils
Homeless Services Grantee Training
HMIS Technical Assistance
Our HMIS Technical Assistance (TA) Staff (PDF) are available to help with your HMIS database needs.
Alicia Osborne
HMIS TA Help Desk
alicia.osborne@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-522-2563
Maylee Stevenson
HMIS TA & Trainings
maylee.stevenson@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-725-2984
Talia Scott
Advanced HMIS TA & Data Integration
talia.scott@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-725-2989
Jayme Khoo
Analytics and Visualization Manager
jayme.khoo@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-725-2921
Nick Mondau
Federal Programs and HMIS Data Systems Manager
nick.mondau@commerce.wa.gov
Phone: 360-725-3028
HMIS E-mail Updates
How are we doing?
Your feedback is important to us. Take our quick survey and let us know what you think. Links will redirect you to Survey Monkey.
HMIS Technical Assistance Customer Survey
HMIS Training Evaluation
Thank you for your feedback.